Standing Room Only for Sunday 11 September 2022

12:15  The Aotearoa NZ Opera Studio

Shortly, the next generation of elite New Zealand opera singers won't have to win a scholarship, find tens of thousands of dollars, or be separated from their families to train overseas for an international career.

Next year the University of Waikato is opening Te Pae Kōkako, The Aotearoa New Zealand Opera Studio, aimed at preparing talented young New Zealand singers to be career ready when they graduate.

It's the long held dream of Dame Malvina Major, one of our most successful international opera singers.  .   Heading the programme is soprano Madeleine Pierard, the inaugural Dame Malvina Major Chair in Opera at the University of Waikato. 

Lynn Freeman asked Madeleine why the studio weas so important to Dame Malvina.

12.30  OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION OF ACCESSION CEREMONY, LIVE FROM PARLIAMENT

 

12:47 Composer Alan Griffiths is inspired by a 21-year-old resistance fighter 

'Such a fine, sunny day' was the last thing 21-year-old resistance fighter Sophia Scholl said, before being executed in Munich after a Nazi show-trial in 1943. 

It's also the name of a new song cycle by New Zealand composer Alan Griffiths who imagines how Sophie, a member of the student-led White Rose group, might have reacted to today's world. 

Performing the premiere of the song-cycle is internationally in-demand Kiwi bass-baritone Paul Whelan, accompanied by pianists Anna Maksymova and Nicholas Young

Alan explains to Lynn Freeman why Sophia's last words resonate so strongly with him.

'Such A Fine, Sunny Day' premieres at The Piano in Christchurch on September 17th.  Also premiering at the concert will be several other of Alan's compositions performed by pianist Nicholas Young, and a violin duet with local violinist Rose Light. 

'Such A Fine, Sunny Day' will be included in Alan's next album Land No More? due out next year.

 

1:10 At The Movies

This week Simon Morris reviews Muru, Northspur and Three thousand of years of longing.

 

1:33  Cynthia Hiu Ying Lam's stories of mothers

What is a 'good' Chinese woman?   That's one of the questions Hong Kong-born writer and performer Cynthia Hiu Ying Lam interrogates in her new play.

She weaves together the stories of her two grandmothers and her mother. with her own experiences in 愛，媽媽   Oy-mahmah - Love Mum.

Their stories are set during the Second World War, Hong Kong's post-war years and finally to the mass exodus of its residents in the 1990s after the unpopular transition from British colonial rule back to communist China.

Sharing those concerns, Cynthia's family moved from Hong Kong to New Zealand when she was five.  Lynn Freeman talks to Cynthia about what inspired the play.

Oy-mahmah,(Love, Mum) by Cynthia Lam and directed by Kanta Kochhar-Lindgren, premieres this Friday at the Herald Theatre in Tamaki Makaurau as part of the Auckland Fringe festival. 

It'll also be available to be streamed for 48 hours following the second performance. 

Just a note - it's deemed suitable for those 16 years and above as it deals with themes of depression and mental health.

 

1:47  Andrew London:  It's all about me!

"Jukebox musicals" are shows based on existing hits from famous bands and songwriters.  And for years, Broadway and London's West End have been dominated by shows like We will rock you and Mamma Mia, using the songs of Queen and Abba.

And now it's the turn of local songwriter Andrew London - not on the West End or Broadway, but at Coastlands Theatre up the Kapiti Coast.  

Andrew writes songs with one purpose - to entertain.  Witty, silly, pointed and fiendishly catchy, he's been singing them around the country for years.

And now - like Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and Lionel Bart before him - Andrew's putting on a show of London ditties, with the help of longtime collaborator, playwright April Phillips.   Right now they're rehearsing a musical called, appropriately enough,  Let's talk about me.  April and Andrew take a break to chat to Simon Morris.

 

2:06 The Laugh Track - Nick Holm

It's always been a matter of interest among certain commentators - trying to define the distinctive New Zealand sense of humour.   We're famously deadpan, laconic, occasionally cheeky - and all delivered in that famous, monotonous accent.

But are they really the defining characteristics?   Academic Nicholas Holm isn't sure.  Nick is the author of such authoritive works as "Laughing at the End of the World - Climate Change Comedy and the Limitations of Comic Activism", and the essential "Fred it's a mess - Fred Dagg and the Cultural Politics of the Laconic".

Nick has his own definition of our humour.  He thinks the overlooked aspect of local comedy - good and bad - is that "it's a bit shit"!    Following his controversial article on NZ On Screen, Nick Holm joins us on the Laugh Track.

His picks include The Flight of the Conchords, the movie Dagg Day Afternoon, The Theme Park Podcast, and TV series Only Murders in the Building.  You can find Nick's article "The difficult art of being a bit  shit" here.

 

2:26  An art exhbition gets on its (yellow electric) bike

It's the ultimate example of taking art to the people - a bright yellow electric cargo bike filled with art supplies is about to hit the streets of Christchurch.

It's the idea of artist Isaac Tait, made possible with the help of The White Room Creative Space and a fundraising campaign.

It's also versatile.  The bike's about to make its first official appearance at the  Ōtautahi Zinefest, where it'll become a mobile zine library.

Lynn Freeman talks to Simon Gray, the White Room's Art Coordinator, and to Isaac who explains when he had the idea.

Look out for the bright yellow electric cargo bike - "The White Room On Wheels" - in action on the streets of Christchurch soon!.

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2:36  Elizabeth Morton's beast-eye view of climate change

 

Creatures trying to survive as the world around them burns express their fears, their anger and their hopes in Naming the Beasts, the visceral new poetry collection by Auckland writer, Elizabeth Morton.

In the world of the poems, habitat destruction and climate change have turned the world into a war zone. 

But all may not be lost.

Elizabeth puts herself in the skin and minds of animals - from hens and cows to native birds, pangolins and one of her favourite creatures, wolves.

Elizabeth Morton's poetry collection Naming the Beasts is published by Otago University Press.

 

 

2:47  The fate of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts

After 140 years displaying art from around the country, the fate of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts now hangs in the balance.

Hopes of saving it rely on the generosity of the charitable trust's members, and an upcoming auction of donated art.

The galleries are based at the heritage Wharf Offices Apartments building in central Wellington.

Wayne Newman recently took over as President of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts and, as he tells Lynn Freeman, he's spearheading the last-chance fundraising efforts.

  

3:06 Drama at 3 -   Maestro Part Two, by Philip Mann

The second and final part of the late Phillip Mann's play Maestro.   In it, scientists are exploring the links between music and plants.

It stars Duncan Smith as Sebastian, William Kircher as Ian, Janet Fisher as Molly and Kate Ward as Beryl. 

The original music was composed by Jonathan Besser with violin played by Helene Pohl.  The recording was by Phil Benge and the producer was Carol Dee for RNZ National
 

3.51  Veteran Artist Andrew Bogle markets online now

Artist Andrew Bogle has embraced the opportunity to market his art online, on the website "Artfull" which profiles the work of New Zealand artists to a national and international audience.

Former curator at the Auckland Art Gallery, Andrew started out as as a printmaker before experimenting with painting on wood panels.

He talks to Lynn Freeman about the pros and cons of selling art online.

 

Music played in this show

Artist: Andrew London
Song:  Enjoy yourself or get out
Composer: London
Album: Enjoy yourself or get out
Label: Private
Played at: 12.16

Artist: Malvina Major
Song: Ave Maria
Composer:  Schubert
Album:To the glory of God
Label:  Kiwi
Played at: 12.28

Artist: Paul Whelan
Song: Fear no more th' heat of the sun
Composer: Wright
Album: Choir of the world
Label: Trust
Played at:  12.58

Artist: Andrew London
Song: My daughter's got a boyfriend
Composer: London
Album: Middle Class White Boy Blues
Label: Andrew London
Played at:  1.07

Artist: Andrew London
Song: Let's talk about me
Composer: London
Album: Middle Class White Boy Blues
Label: Andrew London
Played at: 1.44

Artist: Andrew London
Song: Don't you know who I am
Composer: London
Album: Let's have friends round for dinner
Label: Andrew London
Played at: 1.58

Artist: Andrew London
Song: Two words
Composer: London
Album: Middle Class White Boy Blues
Label: Andrew London
Played at: 

Artist: Andrew London
Song: Speed up at the overtaking lane
Composer:  London
Album: Let's have friends around for dinner
Label: Andrew London
Played at: 2.58

Artist: Andrew London
Song: Wallpaper
Composer:  London
Album: Let's have friends around for dinner
Label:  Andrew London
Played at:  3.58